Bookies worker dragged to ground in attempted robbery of takings

Wednesday 5 March 2014

A jury has heard that a Limerick betting shop worker was dragged along the ground by a robber attempting to steal her handbag, which was full of the day's takings.

39-year-old Geoffrey O'Donoghue with an address at Johnsgate and formerly of Parnell Street, Limerick has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to rob the worker and assault causing her harm at Church Street, Limerick on the 25th of October 2012.

Live 95FM's Eric Clarke has more...

The court heard it was policy for female members of Ladbrokes to place cash in their handbags before leaving to lodge it at the Post Office.

In her evidence, employee Mairead Lawless said she had almost €2,000 in her handbag when she was attacked by a man in a dark hoody who dragged her to the ground on Church Street.

She grappled to hold on to the bag and screamed for help.

She said a Good Samaritan helped beat off her assailant with a bag of books while a second man with a child also came to her aid and her attacker fled.

During cross examination, Ms Lawless denied she was unable to identify her attacker even though he was wearing a dark hood as she said was known to her.